Discover key concepts and common use cases for API key, Personal Access Token (PAT), and Logto Machine-to-Machine (M2M) credentials.
In software development, when we need to programmatically access API resource through CLI commands, or establish communication between backend services, there are usually three authentication mechanisms that are widely used by us developers: API key, Personal Access Token (PAT), and OAuth client credentials flow (branded as Machine-to-Machine in Logto). But what are the differences between them? What is the best fit scenario for each of these methods? In this blog post, we’ll delve into the similarities, differences, and provide insights into when to use each in different scenarios.
In summary, the choice between API keys, PATs, and Logto M2M depends on the specific requirements of your application, whether it involves user-specific actions, machine-to-machine communication, or a combination of both. Assess the security and functionality needs to determine the most appropriate authentication method for your use case.
Logto M2M mechanism allows users to set granular access controls over RBAC (Role-based Access Control) feature. We are also planning to support API key and PAT in the near future. Please stay tuned to our feature updates!